Apparatus for wrapper inserts and coverings of cup-shaped containers

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for insertion of cover sheets and for covering up of cup-shaped containers, which comprises a pile of sheets and of covers, respectively, and a removal device. A conveyor device is provided for setting individual workpieces into and on the containers, respectively. The conveyor device comprises at least two movement-controlled closure-applying units continuously revolving within a guide path closed on itself. The closureapplying units include closure-engaging members and the latter receive workpieces. Means are provided for controlling the closure-engaging members in such manner, that in feeding planes of the workpieces, extending tangentially to different paths, as well as of the containers, a joint engagement track making possible a workpiece change, is contained for the closureengaging members.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Gunter Reinecke Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Germany [2 l] Appl. No. 877,737 [22] Filed Nov. 18, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [73] Assignee Benz & I-Iilges G.m.b.H.

Dusseldorf, Germany [32] Priority Nov. 29, 1968 [33] Germany [31] P18116773 [54] APPARATUS FOR WRAPPER INSERTS AND COVERINGS 0F CUP-SHAPED CONTAINERS 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. CI 53/64, 53/306 [51] Int. Cl B65b 57/02, B65b 7/28 [50] Field of Search 53/304, 305, 306, 303, 292, 328, 319, 330, 64, 307

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,600,138 6/1952 Tesch,]r. 53/304X I n I A I c Primary ExaminerTheron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-Horace M. Culver At!0rney Ernest G. Montague ABSTRACT: An apparatus for insertion of cover sheets and for covering up of cupshaped containers, which comprises a pile of sheets and of covers, respectively, and a removal device, A conveyor device is provided for setting individual workpieces into and on the containers, respectively. The conveyor device comprises at least two movement-controlled closure-applying units continuously revolving within a guide path closed on itself. The closure-applying units include closure-engaging members and the latter receive workpieces. Means are provided for controlling the closure-engaging members in such manner, that in feeding planes of the workpieces, extending tangentially to different paths, as well as ofthe containers, ajoint engagement track making possible a workpiece change, is contained for the closure-engaging members.

PATENTED [ED281971 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVEN TOR 1 @QMLL w PATENTED DQ228197! SHEET 2 OF 2 U V/NVEN TOR BY 1 M APPARATUS FOR WRAPPER INSERTS AND COVERINGS OF CUP-SHAPED CONTAINERS The present invention relates to an apparatus for wrapper or cover sheet inserts and coverings, respectively, of cup-shaped containers of paper, cardboard or synthetic material comprising a sheetand cover-pile respectively, and a removing and feeding device, by means of which the individual workpieces are set in or on the containers, respectively.

Such devices are known for some time, whereby intermittent as well as continuously operating individualizing and transmitting members find use, which cause the insertion of a cover sheet and the mounting of a cover, respectively, on the filled cuplike containers.

Thus, for instance, an intermittent device consists of a horizontally mounted polygon drum with form rests provided on the periphery for the reception of lap-jointed covers. After the drum has fed thereto at its crown the lap-jointed cover, a plurality of further switching steps are required, in order to rotate the cover for 180 and to set the cover on a cup-shaped container likewise intermittently passed on a transporting path I with little distance opposite each other. During the rest period of the drum and of the container, a slide moves away over the periphery of the drum and joins thereby the cover. The cover can thereby be set rigidly on the container with the same slide stroke of the covers or can be only loosely mounted thereon, whereby the pressing on is obtained by an afterwards effective means.

Although the cover is manufactured, printed and punched out during the different switching steps within the rotating path of 180, the required expenses connected with such drums can be still justified. Also of disadvantage, in this case is the switching drive of the intermittent drive with its complicated and expensive construction elements, as well as the reduced output relative to a continuous drive. The difficulty, to use a drum as transmission member for a continuous drive, resides simply in the fact, that its peripheral face is not in tangential engagement and is not engaged, respectively, from the feeding plane of the containers. The offered distance is as a rule maintained in view of differences in the container height, whereby it is assured, that the container does not come into engagement upon mounting of the cover on the drum and, thereby, also cannot be damaged or even made unusable.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for wrapper inserts and coverings of cup-shaped containers, wherein the mentioned drawbacks of the known devices are avoided and wherein the device is characterized by a high-conveyor output by an exact transfer of work pieces from the pile up to the container.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for wrapper inserts and coverings of cup-shaped containers, wherein the cover sheet and the conveyance device transforming the cover, respectively, comprises at least two movement-controlled closure-applying units continuously turning within a closed guiding path. The closure-engaging members of receiving the workpieces can be controlled such, that for the closure-engaging members in the feeding planes of the workpieces extending tangentially to different tracks, as well as the container, a joint engagement track is contained which makes possible the change of the workpiece.

Due to the fact that instead of a drum, closure applying units which can be individually controlled are provided there is the advantage that the rotating path of the closureapplying units can be adjusted, during the transfer of the workpieces from the pile, as well as with its release to the container, to the corresponding feeding planes, which can be throughout different. For this purpose, the individual closure-applying unit comprises closure-engaging member and a shaft and is secured to a horizontally mounted and continuously rotating rotary head, can be controlled such along an immovable cam disk equipped with two substantially concentric and closed cam tracks by means of guide rollers, so, that by different runs of one of the cam tracks relative to the other cam track in the receiving range of the workpiece, the working face of the closure-engaging member is guided linearly. In this range, support frame movable upwardly and downwardly and receiving the workpiece is coordinated to the closure-applying unit, the working stroke of which has not only equal runs as well as an increasing approximation and engagement path relative to the closure-engaging member. In the transfer range of the workpieces to the container passing by with equal speed, the guide of the closure-engaging member equipped with a vacuumfeeding bore throughout, is assured with a vacuum-guiding bore within a recess interrupting the cam track by a movement-controlled lever, which in turn pushes out the closureengaging member in the direction towards the container over the periphery of the drum. The lever is thereby capable of being influenced by a photoelectric cell such, that during omission of a workpiece the closure-engaging member is not operated. The lever is controlled by means of a cam member, as well as with return spring, through which the working stroke of the closure-engaging member, as well as the return guide into the outer cam track is made possible. Due to the fact that during the reception of the workpiece, as well as during its transfer to the container, a greatest possible engagement stroke is provided, a safe workpiece change should be assured also in case of a high-conveying output.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention, which is shown by example only, will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a total elevation, partially in section, of the device for the insert of a cover sheet;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 with the transfer of a cover sheet to the stamp, in longitudinal section and at an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 3 is a section of FIG. 1 with a closure-applying unit head controlled by a lever during insert of a cover sheet to the filled container.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1-3, the workpieces 2 are provided in an oblique pile l and comprise cover sheets or covers which are removed by means of a suction arm 3 at the bottom side of the pile and are transferred to a drawing pair of feed rollers 4, which transfers the individual workpieces 2 between guide rails 5 to a support frame 6. The latter comprises substantially a backwall in addition to a bottom ridge 6a, which serves as limit for arriving workpiece 2. The support frame 6 in turn is secured by means of studs 7 on a rail 8, whereby the studs 7 are secured to a rail 8, and whereby the standing bolts 7 are movably guided in an immovable bearing block 9.

Between the rail 8 and the bearing block 9, the studs 7 are provided with a pressure spring 10. The rail 8 has in addition also a U-shaped ledge 11, in which a control roller 12 is mounted. The control roller 12 works together with a cam member 13. The support frame 6 with the bearing member 9 and the rail 8 is secured to a carrier arm 14 movable upwardly and downwardly. Directly adjacent to the support frame 6 is disposed a machine housing 15 in which is disposed a central shaft 16 for the reception of a polygonal rotary head 17. From the totally five-plane peripheral faces of the rotary head, each carries a radially disposed punchor closure-applying unit l8, which comprises in turn a shaft 19 with a pivot head 20 and a plunger head with closure-engaging member 21. The closureengaging member 21 itself is displaceably guided in an intermediate member 22, which in turn is equipped with a pivoted sleeve 23 for the reception of the pivot head 20. A guide roller 24 sits outside on the intermediate member 22, while on the closure-engaging member 21 and in particular in the immediate range of the working face 21a, receiving the workpiece 2, sits a further guide roller 25. Each closure-applying unit 18 is equipped with a passing bore 26, which is in connection at times with a circular arclike vacuum conduit 27. All closure-applying units 18 move along a disc 28 with an inner cam 29 and an outer curved path 30. The inner cam track 29 of the guide roller 24 and the outer cam track 30 of the guide roller 25 serve as a forced guide. A deviation of the cam tracks 29 and 30 disposed substantially concentrically relative to each other, as can be ascertained from FIG. 1, is provided in the transfer range of the workpiece 2 by means of a flattening of the inner cam track 29. In the transfer range of the workpiece 2, however, the cam disc 28, is equipped with a recess 31, in particular only in the range of the outer curved path 30. In this range, instead of the curved path 30, a movement-controlled lever 32 assumes the guidance of the roller 25. The length of thelever 32 is measured such, that it bridges over the recess in its entire width. On the free end of the lever 32, a rod 34 sits, perpendicular in a bearing 33 secured to the machine housing 15, which rod pushes downwardly the lever 32 by means of a pressure spring 35 supporting itself against the bearing, and thereby the closure-engaging member 21. The return movement of the lever 32 takes place by the rod 34 and over a lever ann 36 which in turn sits rigidly on the rotary axis 37 of a double armed lever 39 cooperating with a cam member 38. The free end 390 of the double lever is influenced by an electromagnet 40 so that during omission of a workpiece recognized by the impulse of a photoelectric cell 41 sent over a conduit 42, magnet core 43 of the electromagnet 40 engages or enters the movement path of the lever end 3911 and prevents the lowering of the closure-engaging member 21. it cannot occur that the closure-engaging member 21 moves without a cover sheet into the filled cup and, thereby, smearing up the entire working face with its suction openings. Tightly below the machine housing 15, the filled cup-shaped containers 44 are fed by drivers 45 bypassing on a transport band 46.

The above-described arrangement for mounting of cover sheets can find use in the same manner and also for covering up the filled containers. The possibility also exists to arrange two of such devices next to each other, whereby the insertion of the cover sheets as well as the mounting of covers can take place successively.

The operation of the device of the present invention is as follows:

in fast succession, the suction member 3 remains a workpiece 2 from which in the shown embodiment, by example, comprises cover sheets to workpieces of paper, synthetic material or aluminum foil. The individual workpiece 2 is transferred by the advancing pair of feed rollers 4 between the guide rails S in proper position into the support frame 6. ln H68. 1 and 2 the starting position of the support frame 6 is shown in full lines. The closure-applying unit 18 assuming a stretched position stands with the working face 2la of its closure-engaging member 21 in equal distance from the support frame 6 (FIG. 2). Due to the fact that the inner cam track 29 assumes a flatter shape compared with the outer cam track 30, during the further run of the two guide rollers 24 and 25 a relative movement is created between the shaft 19 and the closure-engaging member 21 such, that only the shaft 19 maintains its radial arrangement, while the working face 21a of the closure-engaging member, on the other hand, maintains its parallel position of the support frame 6. In this movement, the support frame 6 is pressed by the run up of the control shaft 12 against the cam member 13 so far in the direction towards the closure-engaging member 2], that both, as shown by the point-dotted lines in FIG. 2, can engage each other over a path track A in accordance with the end run of the cam member 13. Since the bore 26 is connected in this position of the closure-engaging member 21 already to the vacuum conduit, the reception of the workpiece 2 is secured by the working face 2la of the closure-engaging member.

The closure-applying unit 18 takes the workpiece 2 up to the vertically downwardly directed radial position, whereby in view of the recess 31, the freed guide roller 25 is taken up by the U-shaped lever 32. By this arrangement, due to the cooperation of the pressure spring 35 sitting on the rod 34 and the cam member 38, the lever 32 and thereby the guide roller 25 with the closure-engaging member 21 are pressed so far downwardly into the container 44, that the cover sheet remains on the filling level. The closure-engaging member 2! does not start its downward stroke only then, when the roller 25, as shown in FIG. 1, has reached its median position between the end and the start of the outer cam track 30. This would lead only to a point engagement and thereby lead to a not always correct position of the cover sheet on the filling level. in reality, the downward stroke starts, as soon as the guide roller 25 is taken up by the lever 32. The closure-applying unit 21 remains now in engagement with the container 44 over a path track B up to shortly prior to the end of the recess 31, in order to lift the roller 25 directly prior to the entrance into the outer cam track 30. This exact control is performed by the cam member 38, which can also be designed as a cam disc. It can be recognized from FIG. I, that at the moment of the lifting the vacuum connection of the closure-applying unit 18 to the vacuum conduit 27 also is removed.

The continuous movement of the closure-engaging members and its tight succession make possible a high output. Yet only due to the fact that upon receiving the workpiece 2 on the closure-applying unit 18 and by transfer of the same to the container 44, in spite of different feeding planes, an engagement track each, A and B are provided in addition to the high output, and a careful and exact working of the workpieces 2 is assured.

While l have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A apparatus for mounting of cover workpieces on filled packing containers guided along a horizontal transportation plane, comprising a continuously rotating conveyor wheel having a peripheral speed complementary to the speed of movement of packing containers to be covered and disposed adjacent thereto,

said conveyor wheel comprising radially extending shafts and a plurality of closure-applying units pivotally disposed on said shafts, respectively,

said closure applying units having receiving faces adapted to receive said workpieces and said closure-applying units being variable in relation to the angular position of said faces relative to said shafts,

a feeding means for continuously feeding said cover workpieces,

a support frame means for receiving said cover workpieces from said feeding means,

said closure-applying units each including two guide rollers,

a cam disc having an outer and inner substantially closed cam track, respectively, comprising substantially concentric circles,

said two guide rollers are guided on said inner and outer cam tracks, respectively,

said inner cam track being formed in a receiving range of said cover workpieces with a flattened portion such that said angular position of said closure-applying units adjusts to a supporting plane of said cover workpieces for receipt thereof,

said outer closed cam track being interrupted in a transfer range of said cover workpieces to a container to be covered and forming a recess,

said containers to be covered moving adjacent said recess,

a member disposed in said recess and receiving therein said guide rollers guided in said outer closed track,

a rod system means movable upwardly and downwardly and pivotally connected to said member, and

said guide rollers guided in said outer closed cam track being guided by said member and producing along with said rod system means a predetermined track length of engagement of said closure-applying units between said receiving face and said container, whereby said closure workpiece is applied to said container.

2. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conveyor wheel includes a central rotary head to which said shafts are mounted,

a circular arc-shaped vacuum conduit formed in said rotary head, said closure-applying unit has a bore, and an end of said bore projecting into said rotary head and connectable with said vacuum conduit.

3. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said member comprises a lever connected to said rod system means, the latter for normally causing said lever, and therewith said closure-applying unit, to move towards said container to be covered, a photoelectric cell and an electromagnet connected thereto said electromagnet operatively disposed in a movement path of said rod system means, and

said photoelectric cell disposed in the path of movement of said receiving face of said closure-applying unit and arranged such that upon omission of one of said workpieces, said closure-applying unit is prevented from moving against said said container to be covered by said electromagnet preventing a movement of said rod system means and a corresponding movement of said lever towards said container,

4. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shaft has a pivot head on a free end thereof,

said closure-applying unit comprises,

an intermediate member having a pivot sleeve pivotally connected to said pivot head,

a closure-engaging member having said receiving face, and telescopically displaceable relative to said intermediate member, and

the other of said guide rollers mounted in said intermediate member, whereby said receiving face of said closure-applying unit is tiltable and radially displaceable.

5. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising,

a rail,

a bearing block resiliently supportingly connecting said support frame to said rail,

a cam piece,

a control roller connected to said rail and guided in said cam piece,

said rail is operatively connected to a reciprocating carrier arm,

said cam piece is arranged to displace said support frame radially relative to said closure-applying unit, for engagement of a cover workpiece is said support frame against said receiving face, and

said carrier arm is arranged to displace said support frame substantially tangentially relative to the movement of said closure-applying unit. 

1. A apparatus for mounting of cover workpieces on filled packing containers guided along a horizontal transportation plane, comprising a continuously rOtating conveyor wheel having a peripheral speed complementary to the speed of movement of packing containers to be covered and disposed adjacent thereto, said conveyor wheel comprising radially extending shafts and a plurality of closure-applying units pivotally disposed on said shafts, respectively, said closure applying units having receiving faces adapted to receive said workpieces and said closure-applying units being variable in relation to the angular position of said faces relative to said shafts, a feeding means for continuously feeding said cover workpieces, a support frame means for receiving said cover workpieces from said feeding means, said closure-applying units each including two guide rollers, a cam disc having an outer and inner substantially closed cam track, respectively, comprising substantially concentric circles, said two guide rollers are guided on said inner and outer cam tracks, respectively, said inner cam track being formed in a receiving range of said cover workpieces with a flattened portion such that said angular position of said closure-applying units adjusts to a supporting plane of said cover workpieces for receipt thereof, said outer closed cam track being interrupted in a transfer range of said cover workpieces to a container to be covered and forming a recess, said containers to be covered moving adjacent said recess, a member disposed in said recess and receiving therein said guide rollers guided in said outer closed track, a rod system means movable upwardly and downwardly and pivotally connected to said member, and said guide rollers guided in said outer closed cam track being guided by said member and producing along with said rod system means a predetermined track length of engagement of said closure-applying units between said receiving face and said container, whereby said closure workpiece is applied to said container.
 2. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conveyor wheel includes a central rotary head to which said shafts are mounted, a circular arc-shaped vacuum conduit formed in said rotary head, said closure-applying unit has a bore, and an end of said bore projecting into said rotary head and connectable with said vacuum conduit.
 3. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said member comprises a lever connected to said rod system means, the latter for normally causing said lever, and therewith said closure-applying unit, to move towards said container to be covered, a photoelectric cell and an electromagnet connected thereto said electromagnet operatively disposed in a movement path of said rod system means, and said photoelectric cell disposed in the path of movement of said receiving face of said closure-applying unit and arranged such that upon omission of one of said workpieces, said closure-applying unit is prevented from moving against said said container to be covered by said electromagnet preventing a movement of said rod system means and a corresponding movement of said lever towards said container.
 4. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shaft has a pivot head on a free end thereof, said closure-applying unit comprises, an intermediate member having a pivot sleeve pivotally connected to said pivot head, a closure-engaging member having said receiving face, and telescopically displaceable relative to said intermediate member, and the other of said guide rollers mounted in said intermediate member, whereby said receiving face of said closure-applying unit is tiltable and radially displaceable.
 5. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, a rail, a bearing block resiliently supportingly connecting said support frame to said rail, a cam piece, a control roller connected to said rail and guided in said cam piece, said rail is operatively connected to a reciprocating carrier arm, said cAm piece is arranged to displace said support frame radially relative to said closure-applying unit, for engagement of a cover workpiece is said support frame against said receiving face, and said carrier arm is arranged to displace said support frame substantially tangentially relative to the movement of said closure-applying unit. 